BRIDGEPORT—“This fire is not like any human or earthly fire we know of. For it is not something, it is someone,” Bishop Frank J. Caggiano said to the newly confirmed when he celebrated Mass for the Vigil of Pentecost at St. Augustine Cathedral.
During his homily, Bishop Caggiano told the story of meeting one of his very first parishioners as a priest in the most unlikely of places…the intensive care unit. The man had gotten into an accident that left the entire side of his leg burned. “From that night on, we developed a friendship, as he began his slow recovery,” said the bishop.
“It was very clear to me—the power of fire and how it can bring great harm, great destruction…even death,” the bishop said. “Isn’t it interesting that you and I have come here tonight to celebrate the feast when we recall the coming of fire…a fire that the apostles longed for, even wanted. A fire that will come upon those who are receiving confirmation,” the bishop addressed the confirmandi and their families.
“As the apostles received this Holy Spirit of God in the form of fire, and filled their minds, hearts, hands and will with the seven gifts of God’s life so they could go out into the world to be his heroic, missionary disciples, you and I stand on their shoulders 21 centuries later.”
Tonight the same spirit will come to you like fire, so that you might do what the apostles did, the bishop said, “To be strengthened in mind and heart and to go out into the world to show the world who you believe in, who you serve, who it is that you will, to the end of your life, be faithful to.”
The bishop asked those in attendance to consider what fire does—produces light. He explained that on the day of our baptism the Holy Spirit came into our lives, souls and spirits so that we may be “enlightened—so that our minds may have the light of truth.”
“Just like light takes darkness and peels the darkness away, you, tonight, will be given the courage, wisdom, understanding, fortitude, so that you might see what the world does not see,” he said.
The bishop explained that the world is blind to the sick, suffering, poor, immigrants, those who have no one to turn to.
“The Holy Spirit is coming to you tonight so that you might see what the world does not want you to see, and you will recognize all those people as brothers and sisters to be respected and loved in Christ.”
He said that fire also gives power—tremendous energy and force. “So too does the divine fire come to you tonight so that you might have the very power of God to stand on your own two feet and to become, as St. Theresa said to her sisters many years ago, the hands, feet, heart and voice of God in the world.”
“In a world that is entitled,” said the bishop, “you will become grateful women and men.”
“To follow the words of St. Francis, the Spirit will give you the energy and power to go into the world and make trouble for Jesus…to show the world the only way it will find hope, joy and peace…only in Jesus the Lord.”
The bishop encouraged the gathered to bring Jesus to the world one person and one day at a time.
The confirmandi were asked to renew their five baptismal promises during the Sacrament of Confirmation that followed.
“Have no fear, Jesus will be with you every step of the way,” the bishop congratulated those receiving Confirmation that evening.
